Left Field

Background Questions

Here are some things to think about when making your character. You don’t need to answer them all, but just keep them in mind. If they inspire you or give you ideas, great!

Some of these are specific to Left Field, some are taken from the EABA rules.

What is your character’s name? Does he have a nickname?

How old is your character?

What did he do for a living before joining the team? Did he graduate high school? Did he go to college? What was his major? Did he graduate college? Did he play sports in high school or college? (Bear in mind that education in rural Nebraska was not the best at the time. Military recruiters in Nebraska during WWII talked about trying to bring some enlistees up to a fifth grade level of education!)

If your character served in the military, was he a draftee or enlistee? Which branch of the military? Was he in a support role, or was he out on the front lines? Was he in Europe, the Pacific theater, or the States? Did he serve in any battles?

If your character was not in the military, what did he do? Why did he not want to enlist, or what kept him out of the draft?

Was your character found by a talent scout? Or did your character walk on to the field during spring training and impress the coach? In either case, how? What made him stand out as a potential recruit?

What does he think about playing baseball? What does he love about the sport? Or is there something he doesn’t like about playing?

How does your character dress? (He’s not going to be wearing his baseball uniform all the time!) What do people think of him?

What are his parents like? Any other family or loved ones? Where does he live? Does he get along with his neighbors? Does he drink or smoke?

Name five things the character likes. Little things, big things, it doesn’t matter. Food, animals, colors, people, anything. What are the things your character would tend to care for, emotionally or physically? Now name five things the characters dislikes. Little things, big things, it doesn’t matter. What rubs him the wrong way?

What does your character want to do with his life? Something short term and something long term, please.